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MRS. BIXBY AND THE COLONEL’S COAT
Mr. and Mrs. Bixby lived … New York. Mr. Bixby was a dentist who made an average income. Once a month, always … Friday afternoons, Mrs. Bixby would visit her old aunt … Baltimore, who was not doing well … life: she lived … unemployment benefit. As it turned …, however, the aunt was little more than a convenient alibi for Mrs. Bixby. … fact, Mrs. Bixby spent the greater part … her Baltimore time … an exceedingly wealthy man, known as the Colonel.
Year … year Mrs. Bixby fooled her husband neatly and subtly. The pleasant alliance … Mrs. Bixby and Colonel passed entirely … incident (=continued without a hitch) … eight years.
It was just … Christmas: Mrs. Bixby was waiting … her train to take her … … New York. Suddenly the Colonel’s groom approached her and pushed a large cardboard box … her hands … the words, “The Colonel asked me to give you this”. She couldn’t wait to see what was …the box. As soon as she was …the train she opened the box and grinned (smiled her delight) – a gorgeous mink coat took her breath …. There was no mistaking – it cost a tidy sum … money. She tried it … … once for she was dress-conscious.
… the excitement … finding the mink coat and trying it … she overlooked a vital aspect – she couldn’t possibly tell her husband that her aunt had given it … her … Christmas. Mrs Bixby had to be secure-conscious. … a couple … hours she would be … New York. She didn’t want to part … the coat, so she was … her wits’ end. “Don’t go panicky”, she said … herself. “Collect your wits and think … a plan”.
Two hours later Mrs. Bixby stepped … the train, signaled … a taxi, which took her … a pawnbroker. She pawned her coat and was given a ticket. Ten minutes later she was … home. Her husband was reading his evening paper “You are a bit late today, aren’t you?” “You know it’s those dreadful trains. I am dying …a drink.” Her husband was an orderly-minded man. He folded his paper … a neat rectangle for he was a man … tidy habits, placed it … the arm … his chair and made (headed) … the kitchen. It was funny how small and slovenly he looked … the Colonel, who was always dressed spick-and-span. My husband’s suits are too ridiculous … words. I am eager … him to change the way he dresses.
“This Martini is perfect”. She opened her handbag and took a handkerchief as if to blow her nose “Oh, look!”, she cried seeing the ticket. “I found it just now … the seat … my taxi. I thought it might be some lottery ticket, so I kept it.” She handed it … her husband. He examined it carefully and explained it …her that it was a pawn ticket … the name and address … the shop, so anyone could claim it. “There is no knowing what it might be, my dear. We’ll wait and see. I think I’ll pick it … …my way … work.”
Monday morning came … last. Mrs. Bixby hadn’t slept a wink that night. “Supposing they cheat Cyril”, she thought … herself. “Darling”, she said following her husband …the door. “Give me a buzz … … … you get … the office”.
An hour later he called her to say that he had redeemed the thing. He refused to tell her what it was and promised to bring it …the evening. But she couldn’t wait that long. She rushed … the office … lunchtime. Her husband gave her a small box … which she found a small mink necklace and congratulated her … such a good find. Mrs. Bixby made believe she was pleased, but deep … she was outraged. “I am going to kill that pawnbroker”.
… leaving the office she took notice … her husband’s secretary assistant, who was going … … lunch. Her face wore an impudent grin. “Isn’t it a gorgeous day!”, she said looking like a queen … the beautiful mink coat that the Colonel had given … Mrs. Bixby. She returned home … a subdued mood. She had made a fool … herself but she had to grin and bear it. Alas … the hopes lost.
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